Enhancing nucleation in phase-change memory cells

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments disclosed herein comprise methods and apparatuses for placing phase-change memory (PCM) cells of a memory array into a temperature regime where nucleation probability of the PCM cells is enhanced prior to applying a subsequent SET programming signal. In one embodiment, the method includes applying a nucleation signal to the PCM cells to form nucleation sites within the memory array where the nucleation signal has a non-zero rising-edge. A programming signal is subsequently applied to achieve a desired level of crystallinity within selected ones of the plurality of PCM cells. Additional methods and apparatuses are also described.

PRIORITY APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/154,410, filed May 13, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/328,536, filed Jul. 10, 2014, now issued as U.S.Pat. No. 9,343,149, all of which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

BACKGROUND

Computers and other electronic systems, for example, digitaltelevisions, digital cameras, and cellular phones, often have one ormore memory devices to store information. Increasingly, memory deviceshaving multi-level cells (MLC), such as phase-change memory devices, areemployed to achieve a higher density of storage capacity. However,phase-change memory devices may vary during manufacture. Therefore, amethodology is needed to properly set and reset memory devices that arein an array while minimizing program times, thereby increasing memoryspeed and decreasing power consumption while increasing overall productperformance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a memory device having a memory arraywith memory cells, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a partial block diagram of a memory device having a memoryarray including memory cells with access components and memory elements,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a memory cell having an accesscomponent coupled to a memory element, according to various embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic block diagram of one of severalphase-change memory (PCM) cell memory elements that may be used with thememory devices of FIGS. 1 and 2, or may comprise the memory cell of FIG.3;

FIGS. 5A through 5C show schematic representations of programmingsignals of the prior art used to apply a SET to PCM cells;

FIGS. 6A through 6D show schematic representations of signals that maybe used as either separate nucleation phase signals or that may beconsidered as combined nucleation phase and subsequently-applied SETprogramming signals (note: the term “nucleation phase” is used withregard to nucleation as a time period, process, or portion of the SETsignal and not as a transition between various changes in materialproperties);

FIG. 7 is a graphical representation showing crystallizationprobability/growth velocity as a function of temperature forphase-change materials;

FIG. 8 is a prior art nucleation signal followed by asubsequently-applied SET signal to enhance the nucleation process of asingle PCM cell;

FIG. 9 is an alternative signal shape with separate signals fornucleation and SET signals in accordance with various embodimentsdescribed herein to promote nucleation in a plurality of PCM cells whileaccounting for manufacturing variability between the PCM cells:

FIGS. 10A and 10B show a number of programming curves obtained withdifferent SET signals for both rise times and fall times for a varietyof time periods;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a method to implementnucleation phases and subsequent crystal growth in PCM cells inaccordance with various embodiments described herein; and

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of a system embodiment, including a memorydevice in accordance with the embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows includes illustrative apparatuses(circuitry, devices, structures, systems, and the like) and methods(e.g., processes, protocols, sequences, techniques, and technologies)that embody various aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein. Inthe following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding ofvarious embodiments of the inventive subject matter. It will be evident,however, to those skilled in the art that various embodiments of theinventive subject matter may be practiced without these specificdetails. Further, well-known apparatuses and methods have not been shownin detail so as not to obscure the description of various embodiments.

As used herein, the term “or” may be construed in an inclusive orexclusive sense. Additionally, although various embodiments discussedbelow may primarily focus on multi-level cells (MLC), such asphase-change memory devices, the embodiments are merely given forclarity of disclosure, and thus, are not limited to apparatuses in theform of MLC memory devices or even to memory devices in general. As anintroduction to the subject, a few embodiments will be described brieflyand generally in the following paragraphs, and then a more detaileddescription, with reference to the figures, will ensue.

A working principle of phase-change memory (PCM) cells is based on acapability of the cells to reversibly switch between an amorphous and acrystalline phase by means of relatively fast electrical signals, orpulses. In an actual PCM cell, the cell is switched between acrystalline-like low-resistance state (SET state), where at least alarge part of the volume of the phase-change material is in thecrystalline phase, to an amorphous high-resistance state (RESET state),where the volume of the phase-change material is either partially orfully amorphized. Currently, the crystallization mechanism that governsthe amorphous-to-crystalline transition represents a primary limitingfactor for an overall programming speed of any PCM-based technology. Theoverall programming speed relates directly to the operational bandwidthof a memory array comprising PCM cells.

The crystallization process for a phase-change material is usuallydescribed through the competitive actions of two distinct mechanisms.Without being bound by theory, it is generally accepted thatcrystallization takes place through different processes. A firstprocess, called crystal nucleation, corresponds to the spontaneouscreation of one or more single small crystals inside the amorphousmaterial or materials. The crystal nucleation mechanism is usuallydominant in a low temperature regime close to the glass transition. Asecond crystallization process is generally referred to crystal growth.During the crystal growth process, a size of existing crystal regionsincreases over amorphous regions. The crystal growth process is usuallydominant at temperatures higher than the crystal nucleation mechanism.The crystal growth process further requires the existence of acrystalline or nucleation region to start the growth process. Each ofthese mechanisms is described in more detail, below.

To a first order, phase-change memory cells may alternatively beconsidered as resistance-change memory cells, chalcogenide random-accessmemory, phase-change random-access memory, and various other terms usedthroughout the industry. Sometimes various ones of these terms are usedinterchangeably; other times one term may be a variation of the other.Therefore, for brevity of notation, the term phase-change memory (PCM)cells will be referred to herein to refer to any type of resistancechange memory cell that may be programmed based on applying a voltage orcurrent to alter a resistance of the memory cell.

As explained in more detail below, and as is known to a person ofordinary skill in the art, there is a balancing that occurs whenprogramming PCM cells between crystallization speed (how long does ittake to program a cell) and data retention of the cell (how long are thedata within the cell stable). In general, a SET signal applied to a cell(the kinetics of this process are described in more detail below) relieson at least partial crystallization of the phase-change material withinthe PCM cell. An amount of crystallization determines an overallresistivity of the cell. As the cell progresses from fully amorphous (aRESET state) to various levels of crystallization (corresponding tovarious SET states), the resistivity of the cell decreases. As notedabove, the PCM cells may be reversibly switched between the various SETstates and the RESET state. However, the crystallization speed isusually much slower than the amorphization speed. Consequently, anoverall programming speed of each of the individual PCM cells is limitedby how quickly the phase-change material can crystallize.

As also discussed briefly above, nucleation or crystallization theory ofPCM cells indicates that crystallization occurs as a two-step process.The phase-change material first forms tiny stable crystals by a processcalled crystal nucleation when a signal is applied. The tiny crystalsthen begin to grow (crystal growth), eventually to a fully crystallinestructure. However, a nucleation rate is faster at lower temperaturescompared to those temperatures that are needed to grow the crystal tolarger size (maximum of growth velocity is usually at higher temperaturethan maximum of nucleation rate). The final crystallization (crystalgrowth) occurs more rapidly at higher temps (but below the meltingtemperature of the phase-change material). Further, because ofmanufacturing tolerances in fabricating PCM devices, the exacttemperature required for optimal nucleation cannot be determined apriori as each cell may have a slightly different peak nucleationtemperature. Therefore, one guideline of the inventive subject matter asis described herein is to provide a signal with a finite rise time tomanage cell-to-cell manufacturing variability while still providing anincrease in overall programming speed due to forming the nucleationsites within the phase-change material.

However, as will be readily understood by a skilled artisan, PCM cellsare typically used in arrays of memory that may be programmed or readindividually or in groups. Therefore, an overview of a simplified blockdiagram of a memory device having a memory array with memory cells,along with various selection mechanisms, and a schematic representationof a PCM cell are discussed prior to a detailed description of thevarious nucleation and programming methods and techniques of theinventive subject matter discussed herein.

For example, with reference to FIG. 1, a block diagram of an apparatusin the form of a memory device 101 is shown. The memory device 101includes one or more memory arrays 102 having a number (e.g., one ormore) of memory cells 100 according to an embodiment. The memory cells100 can be arranged in rows and columns along with access lines 104(e.g., wordlines to conduct signals WL0 through WLm) and first datalines 106 (e.g., bit lines to conduct signals BL0 through BLn). Thememory device 101 can use the access lines 104 and the first data lines106 to transfer information to and from the memory cells 100. A rowdecoder 107 and a column decoder 108 decode address signals A0 throughAX on address lines 109 to determine which ones of the memory cells 100are to be accessed.

Sense circuitry, such as a sense amplifier circuit 110, operates todetermine the values of information read from the memory cells 100 inthe form of signals on the first data lines 106. The sense amplifiercircuit 110 can also use the signals on the first data lines 106 todetermine the values of information to be written to the memory cells100.

The memory device 101 is further shown to include circuitry 112 totransfer values of information between the memory array 102 andinput/output (I/O) lines 105. Signals DQ0 through DQN on the I/O lines105 can represent values of information read from or to be written intothe memory cells 100. The I/O lines 105 can include nodes within thememory device 101 (or alternatively, pins, solder balls, or otherinterconnect technologies such as controlled collapse chip connection(C4), or flip chip attach (FCA)) on a package where the memory device101 resides. Other devices external to the memory device 101 (e.g., amemory controller or a processor, not shown in FIG. 1) can communicatewith the memory device 101 through the I/O lines 105, the address lines109, or the control lines 120.

The memory device 101 can perform memory operations, such as a readoperation, to read values of information from selected ones of thememory cells 100 and a programming operation (also referred to as awrite operation) to program (e.g., to write) information into selectedones of the memory cells 100. The memory device 101 can also perform amemory erase operation to clear information from some or all of thememory cells 100.

A memory control unit 118 controls memory operations using signals onthe control lines 120. Examples of the signals on the control lines 120can include one or more clock signals and other signals to indicatewhich operation (e.g., a programming or read operation) the memorydevice 101 can or should perform. Other devices external to the memorydevice 101 (e.g., a processor or a memory controller) can control thevalues of the control signals on the control lines 120. Specificcombinations of values of the signals on the control lines 120 canproduce a command (e.g., a programming, read, or erase command) that cancause the memory device 101 to perform a corresponding memory operation(e.g., a program, read, or erase operation).

Although various embodiments discussed herein use examples relating to asingle-bit memory storage concept for ease in understanding, theinventive subject matter can be applied to numerous multiple-bit schemesas well. For example, each of the memory cells 100 can be programmed toa different one of at least two data states to represent, for example, avalue of a fractional bit, the value of a single bit or the value ofmultiple bits such as two, three, four, or a higher number of bits, eachassociated with a range of resistance values in a phase-change memorydevice.

For example, each of the memory cells 100 can be programmed to one oftwo data states to represent a binary value of “0” or “1” in a singlebit. Such a cell is sometimes called a single-level cell (SLC).

In another example, each of the memory cells 100 can be programmed toone of more than two data states to represent a value of, for example,multiple bits, such as one of four possible values “00,” “01,” “10,” and“11” for two bits, one of eight possible values “000,” “001,” “010,”“011,” “100,” “101,” “110,” and “111” for three bits, or one of anotherset of values for larger numbers of multiple bits. A cell that can beprogrammed to one of more than two data states is sometimes referred toas a multi-level cell (MLC). Various operations on these types of cellsare discussed in more detail, below.

The memory device 101 can receive a supply voltage, including supplyvoltage signals V_(cc) and V_(ss), on a first supply line 130 and asecond supply line 132, respectively. Supply voltage signal V_(ss), can,for example, be at a ground potential (e.g., having a value ofapproximately zero volts). Supply voltage signal V_(cc) can include anexternal voltage supplied to the memory device 101 from an externalpower source such as a battery or alternating-current to direct-current(AC-DC) converter circuitry (not shown in FIG. 1).

The circuitry 112 of the memory device 101 is further shown to include aselect circuit 115 and an input/output (I/O) circuit 116. The selectcircuit 115 can respond to signals SEL1 through SELn to select signalson the first data lines 106 and the second data lines 113 that canrepresent the values of information to be read from or to be programmedinto the memory cells 100. The column decoder 108 can selectivelyactivate the SEL1 through SELn signals based on the A0 through AXaddress signals on the address lines 109. The select circuit 115 canselect the signals on the first data lines 106 and the second data lines113 to provide communication between the memory array 102 and the I/Ocircuit 116 during read and programming operations.

The memory device 101 may comprise a non-volatile memory device and thememory cells 100 can include non-volatile memory cells such that thememory cells 100 can retain information stored therein when power (e.g.,V_(cc), V_(ss), or both) is disconnected from the memory device 101.

Each of the memory cells 100 can include a memory element havingmaterial, at least a portion of which can be programmed to a desireddata state (e.g., by storing a corresponding amount of charge on acharge storage structure, such as a floating gate or charge trap, or bybeing programmed to a corresponding resistance value). Different datastates can thus represent different values of information programmedinto each of the memory cells 100.

The memory device 101 can perform a programming operation when itreceives (e.g., from an external processor or a memory controller) aprogramming command and a value of information to be programmed into oneor more selected ones of the memory cells 100. Based on the value of theinformation, the memory device 101 can program the selected memory cellsto appropriate data states to represent the values of the information tobe stored therein.

One of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that the memory device101 may include other components, at least some of which are discussedherein. However, several of these components are not shown in thefigure, so as not to obscure details of the various embodimentsdescribed. The memory device 101 may include devices and memory cells,and operate using memory operations (e.g., programming and eraseoperations) similar to or identical to those described below withreference to various other figures and embodiments discussed herein.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a partial block diagram of an apparatus inthe form of a memory device 201 is shown to include a memory array 202,including memory cells 200 with access components 211 and memoryelements 222, according to an example embodiment. The memory array 202may be similar or identical to the memory array 102 of FIG. 1. Asfurther shown in FIG. 2, the memory cells 200 are shown to be arrangedin a number of rows 230, 231, 232, along with access lines, for exampleword lines, to conduct signals such as signals WL0, WL1, and WL2. Thememory cells are also shown to be arranged in a number of columns 240,241, 242 along with data lines, for example bit lines, to conductsignals such as signals BL0, BL1, and BL2. The access components 211 canturn on (e.g., by using appropriate values of signals WL0, WL1, and WL2)to allow access, along with signals BL0, BL1, and BL2, to the memoryelements 222, such as to operate the memory elements as pass elements,or to read information from or program (e.g., write) information intothe memory elements 222.

Programming information into the memory elements 222 can include causingthe memory elements 222 to have specific resistance values or,alternatively, to store specific amounts of charge. Thus, readinginformation from a memory cell 200 can include, for example, determininga resistance value of the memory element 222 or determining whether thememory cell 200 is placed in a conductive state in response to aspecific voltage being applied to its access component 211. In eithercase, such a determining act may involve sensing a current (or absenceof current) flowing through the memory cell 200 (e.g., by sensing acurrent of a bit line electrically coupled to the memory cell). Based ona measured value of the current (including, in some examples, whether acurrent is detected at all), a corresponding value of the informationstored in the memory can be determined. The value of information storedin a memory cell 200 can be determined in still other ways, such as bysensing a voltage of a bit line electrically coupled to the memory cell.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a memory cell 300 having an accesscomponent 311 coupled to a memory element 333, according to variousembodiments. Lines labeled WL and BL in FIG. 3 may correspond to any oneof the access lines 104 and any one of the first data lines 106 of FIG.1, respectively. FIG. 3 shows an example of the access component 311including, for example, a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effecttransistor (MOSFET). As will be realized by a person of ordinary skillin the art, upon reading this disclosure, the memory cell 300 caninclude other types of access components.

The memory element 333 may be coupled to and disposed between twoelectrodes, such as a first electrode 351 and a second electrode 352.FIG. 3 schematically shows these electrodes as dots. Structurally, eachof these electrodes can include conductive material. The memory element333 can include material that can be changed, for example, in responseto a signal, to have different resistance values. The value ofinformation stored in the memory element can correspond to theresistance value of the memory element. The access component 311 canenable signals (e.g., embodied as a voltage or current) to betransferred to and from the memory element 333 via the pairs ofelectrodes during operation of the memory cell, such as during read,program, or erase operations.

A programming operation may use signal WL to turn on the accesscomponent 311 and then apply a signal BL (e.g., a signal having aprogramming voltage or current) through the memory element 333. Such asignal can cause at least a portion of the material of the memoryelement 333 to change. The change can be reversed by, for instance,performing an erase operation. For example, a localized conductiveregion may be formed within an electrolyte contained within the memoryelement 333. The formation of the localized conductive region isdiscussed in more detail, below, for example, with reference to FIGS. 5Athrough 5C. The lateral size of the localized conductive region can havedifferent resistance values that can be used to represent differentstates that represent different values of information stored in thememory element 333. The physical characteristics of the localizedconductive region, and hence the memory characteristics of the cell,depend on the attributes of the electronic signal that is used to “set”the cell. For example, a low energy signal may form a “weak” or“fragile” conductive region that is “thin” or lower in conductance, andretains the associated resistance state for only a short duration. Inthis case, the low energy signal provides a low-power, short-term memoryfunction. In comparison, a higher energy signal may form a “stronger” orthicker conductive region that exhibits longer-term memory retention. Inyet another example, a very fast, high power signal may provide aconductive region that is only retained temporarily. In this case, thememory function may be considered volatile and function in a manneranalogous to DRAM. Any of the prescribed memory functions may beutilized in conjunction with other memory cells, or regions of memorycells, that furnish differentiated memory functions, based on theirprogram signal attributes.

A read operation may use the signal WL to turn on the access component311 and then apply a signal BL having a voltage or a current (e.g., aread voltage or current) through the memory element 333. The readoperation may measure the resistance of the memory cell 300, based on aread voltage or current, to determine the corresponding value ofinformation stored therein. For example, in the memory cell 300, adifferent resistance value can impart a different value (e.g., voltageor current value) to signal BL when a read current passes through thememory elements 333. Other circuitry of the memory device (e.g., acircuit such as the I/O circuit 116 of FIG. 1) can use the signal BL tomeasure the resistance value of memory element 333 to determine thevalue of the information stored therein.

The voltage or current used during a read, program, or erase operationcan be different from one another. For example, in a programmingoperation, the value (e.g., the voltage) of the signal (e.g., the signalBL in FIG. 3) that creates a current flowing through the memory elementcan be sufficient to cause the material of at least a portion of thememory element to change. The change can alter the resistance value ofthe memory element to reflect the value of the information to be storedin the memory element 333.

In a read operation, the value (e.g., the voltage) of the signal (e.g.,the signal BL in FIG. 3) that creates a current flowing through thememory element can be sufficient to create the current but insufficientto cause any portion of the memory element to change. Consequently, thevalue of the information stored in the memory element can remainunchanged during and after the read operation. Other embodiments mayrequire “refresh” operations, for example, a volatile memory functionsuch as DRAM.

In a generalized erase operation with various types of memory cells, thevoltage value of the signal (e.g., the signal BL in FIG. 3) can have anopposite polarity from the voltage used in a programming operation. Thesignal, creating a current in this case, can therefore change, or reset,the material of the memory element to its original state; for example,to a state prior to any programming being performed on the memory cell.

Various ones or all of the memory cells 100, 200, 300 of FIGS. 1 through3 can include a memory cell having a structure similar or identical toone or more of the phase-change memory cells described below.

For example, FIG. 4 shows is a simplified schematic block diagram of oneof several phase-change memory cells that may be used with the memorydevices of FIGS. 1 and 2, and may be similar to or identical to thememory element 333 of FIG. 3. That is, the memory cell 300 may comprisea phase-change memory (PCM) cell 400. The PCM cell 400 may includeconductive elements 405 coupled to a phase-change material 407. Thephase-change material 407 may be surrounded on two or more sides by adielectric material 409. A signal 410 may be applied to the phase-changematerial 407 through the conductive elements 405.

In a specific exemplary embodiment, suitable materials for theconductive elements 405 include a thin film of titanium (Ti), titaniumnitride (TiN), titanium tungsten (TiW), carbon (C), silicon carbide(SiC), titanium aluminum nitride (TiAIN), titanium silicon nitride(TiSiN), polycrystalline silicon, tantalum nitride (TaN), somecombination of these films, or other conductive materials that arecompatible with the phase-change material 407.

The phase-change material 407 comprises a material having electricalproperties (e.g., resistance, capacitance, etc.) that may be changedthrough the application of energy such as, for example, heat, light,voltage potential, or electrical current. Examples of a phase-changematerial include a chalcogenide material. A chalcogenide alloy may beused in a memory element or in an electronic switch. A chalcogenidematerial is a material that includes at least one element from column VIof the periodic table or is a material that includes one or more of thechalcogenic elements: for example, any of the elements of tellurium,sulfur, or selenium. In a specific exemplary embodiment, thephase-change material 407 comprises Ge₂Sb₂Te₅, also known asGermanium-Antimony-Tellurium, or simply GST.

The dielectric material 409 allows for a relatively small amount of thephase-change material 407 to be used, thus increasing the programmingspeed of the PCM cell 400 by keeping the volume of the phase-changematerial 407 to a relatively small level. In various embodiments, thedielectric material 409 may comprise silicon dioxide (SiO₂) or siliconnitride (Si_(x)N_(y)). Additionally, various types of dielectricmaterials, such as tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅), silicon nitride(Si_(x)N_(y)), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅),hafnium oxide (HfO₂), and a variety of other organic or inorganicdielectric materials, may be used as an alternative to or in conjunctionwith SiO₂ or Si_(x)N_(y).

The signal 410 that is applied to the phase-change material 407 throughthe conductive elements 405 is described in various embodiments, below.For example, FIGS. 6A through 6D show graphs of various types ofnucleation and/or SET programming signals that include an initialramp-up signal to provide a crystal nucleation phase (note: the term“nucleation phase” is used with regard to nucleation as a time period,process, or portion of the SET signal) inside the amorphous PCM cellsprior to applying either a SET signal to the PCM cells or the remainingportion of the SET signal during which those nucleated crystals grow tolarger size. As discussed in more detail with regard to FIG. 9, below,the nucleation signal may either be a separate signal applied prior to aSET signal, or, alternatively, may be part of a continuousnucleation/SET programming signal.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A through 5C, schematic representations ofprogramming signals used by the prior art to apply a SET to PCM cellsare shown. For each of the signals shown, either a voltage or current(e.g., a signal) is applied to the PCM cell for a predetermined periodof time, where the ramp-up time is nearly instantaneous in all cases.After a maximum amplitude of the signal is achieved, the signal iseither maintained at a constant amplitude for a period of time (FIG.5A), ramped-down over a pre-determined time period (FIG. 5B), ormaintained at a constant amplitude for a period of time and thenramped-down over a pre-determined time period (FIG. 5C).

For example, FIG. 5A shows a square signal 500 applied to be applied tothe PCM cell. The square signal 500 has a substantially instantaneousrise time 501 on the rising edge of the signal to a pre-determinedmaximum signal amplitude of voltage or current. The square signal 500 ismaintained at a constant signal 503 amplitude or plateau (a non-zerovoltage or current) throughout the time duration of the square signal500 and then returns to zero (or some minimal value of voltage orcurrent) on the trailing edge 505 of the signal. Note that the maximumsignal amplitude of voltage or current is typically less than a currentlevel that would induce melting of the phase-change material within thecell. That is, the maximum amplitude of the constant signal 503 isselected to be less than that required to produce a melting current,I_(melt), across the PCM cells to avoid a RESET of the phase-changematerial. During a RESET, the phase-change material melts (atapproximately 900 K) and, due to the rapid return to zero of thetrailing edge 505 of the signal, the phase-change material quickly coolsand remains in an amorphous state.

FIG. 5B shows a triangular signal 510 with a substantially instantaneousrise time 511 on the rising edge of the signal. After the triangularsignal 510 reaches a pre-determined maximum amplitude, the triangularsignal 510 then begins a ramp-down trailing-edge 513 to zero, or someminimal value of voltage or current, on the trailing edge of the signal.The ramp-down trailing-edge 513 occurs over a pre-determined timeperiod.

FIG. 5C shows a combined signal 520 having a substantially instantaneousrise time 521 to a predetermined maximum signal height of voltage orcurrent. The combined signal 520 is maintained at a constant signal 523amplitude or plateau (a non-zero voltage or current) throughout apre-determined time period of the combined signal 520. The combinedsignal 520 then begins a ramp-down trailing-edge 525, for anotherpre-determined time period, to return to zero (or some minimal value ofvoltage or current) on the trailing edge of the signal.

Unlike the square signal 500 of FIG. 5A, the triangular signal 510 ofFIG. 5B or the combined signal 520 of FIG. 5B may either have a maximumsignal amplitude either less than or greater than a voltage or currentthat would induce melting of the phase-change material within the cell.That is, since the signals of both FIGS. 5B and 5C slowly return tozero, the phase-change material may return from an amorphous state tosome level of crystallinity.

Each of the prior art programming signals of FIGS. 5A through 5C utilizea nearly instantaneous rising-edge signal applied to the PCM cells. Theinstantaneous signal is ideally 0, but current practical limitationsnecessitate an approximately 10 nanosecond (ns) rising-edge on thesignal. Consequently, as used herein, the term “non-zero rising-edgesignal” shall refer to a deliberate selection of either an analog or a(e.g., digital) step-wise ramped-up signal.

However, in contrast to the various types of signals used by prior artprocesses in programming a SET signal in a PCM cell as shown in FIGS. 5Athrough 5C, FIGS. 6A through 6D show schematic representations ofsignals that may be used as either separate nucleation phase signal oras combined nucleation phase and programming SET signals. As describedin more detail below, FIGS. 6A through 6D include an initial ramp-upsignal to provide a crystal nucleation phase inside amorphous PCM cellsprior to subsequently applying a SET signal to the PCM cells. Thesignals may also be considered as a combined nucleation and SET signal.As disclosed in more detail below, the nucleation phase increases anoverall programming speed of the cell.

For example, one attribute of the subject matter described herein is aprogramming methodology for PCM cells that includes a nucleation phaseand adopts one or more of the signals as shown graphically in FIGS. 6Athrough 6D. Each of these signals utilize a non-zero ramp-up time orrising edge of the signal that is substantially longer than thepractical lower limit of the approximately 10 ns ramp-up time discussedabove with regard to FIGS. 5A through 5C.

The non-zero rising edge disclosed herein promotes a crystal nucleationphase or process without prompting a crystallization growth processwithin the phase-change materials. Consequently, the switchingproperties of PCM cells is faster (e.g., from either an initialamorphous or nucleation phase to various levels of crystallinity,thereby affecting a resistivity of the cells) due to placing the PCMcells into the nucleation phase (achieved at a temperature of, forexample, 420 K) but without activating spontaneous crystallization (athigher temperatures up to the melting temperature) of the phase-changematerials within the cells. For example, placing the PCM cells into anucleation phase appears to be stable in nature, likely due toinsufficient thermal energy at the nucleation temperatures describedherein to overcome the energy barrier required for diffusion and aconcomitant crystallization growth. The switching properties arediscussed in more detail, below, with reference to FIG. 7.

With direct reference again to FIGS. 6A through 6D, each signal beginswith a non-zero leading edge and, after a maximum amplitude of thesignal is achieved, the signal is either maintained at a constantamplitude for a period of time (FIG. 6A), ramped-down over apre-determined time period (FIG. 6B), maintained at a constant amplitudefor a period of time and then ramped-down over a pre-determined timeperiod (FIG. 6C), or ramped-down quickly to zero (or some minimal valueof voltage or current as shown in FIG. 6D). Each of the various signalsmay be used to provide either separate or combined nucleation and/or SETsignals as described in more detail herein.

For example, FIG. 6A shows a rising-edge signal 600 applied to the PCMcell. The rising-edge signal 600 has a non-zero time period in which aramped rising-edge 601 of the signal raises to a pre-determined maximumsignal height of voltage or current. The rising-edge signal 600 ismaintained at a constant signal 603 amplitude or plateau (a non-zerovoltage or current) throughout the time duration of the rising-edgesignal 600 and then returns to zero (or some minimal value of voltage orcurrent) on the trailing edge 605 of the signal. For the rising-edgesignal 600, the trailing edge is nearly instantaneous (perhaps occurringover a 10 ns time period based on practical limits of the trailing edgeresponse). Note that the maximum signal height of voltage or current maybe selected to be typically less than a current level that would induceeither partial or complete melting of the phase-change material withinthe cell. (A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatthere may be a temperature gradient through the cell, so no uniquemelting temperature for each point in the cell should be inferred.) Thatis, the maximum amplitude of the constant signal 603 amplitude isselected to produce less than the melting current, I_(melt), across thePCM cells to avoid either a partial or a complete RESET of thephase-change material. During a RESET, the phase-change material melts(at approximately 900 K depending on the material chosen) and, due tothe rapid return to zero of the trailing edge 605 of the signal, thephase-change material quickly cools and remains in an amorphous state.

FIG. 6B shows a triangular signal 610 with a non-zero time period inwhich a ramped rising-edge 611 of the signal raises to a pre-determinedmaximum signal amplitude of voltage or current. After the triangularsignal 610 reaches a pre-determined maximum amplitude, the triangularsignal 610 then begins a ramp-down trailing-edge 613 to zero, or someminimal value of voltage or current, on the trailing edge of the signal.The ramp-down trailing-edge 613 occurs over a pre-determined timeperiod.

FIG. 6C shows a combined signal 620 having a non-zero time period inwhich a ramped rising edge 621 of the signal raises to a pre-determinedmaximum signal amplitude of voltage or current. The combined signal 620is maintained at a constant signal 623 amplitude or plateau (a non-zerovoltage or current) throughout a pre-determined time period of thecombined signal 620. The combined signal 620 then begins a ramp-downtrailing-edge 625, for another pre-determined time period, to return tozero (or some minimal value of voltage or current) on the trailing edgeof the signal.

FIG. 6D shows a rising-edge triangular-signal 630 to be applied to thePCM cell. The rising-edge triangular-signal 630 has a non-zero timeperiod in which a ramped rising-edge 631 of the signal raises to apre-determined maximum signal height of voltage or current. Therising-edge triangular-signal 630 then returns to zero (or some minimalvalue of voltage or current) on the trailing edge 633 of the signal. Forthe rising-edge triangular-signal 630, the trailing edge is nearlyinstantaneous (perhaps occurring over a 10 ns time period based onpractical limits of the trailing edge response).

With continuing reference to FIGS. 6A through 6D, an initial nucleationphase period occurs during a portion of the non-zero time period of theramped rising-edge 601, 611, 621, 631 in each of the signals describedin FIGS. 6A through 6D. All four approaches described in FIGS. 6Athrough 6D, or various combinations thereof, are effective to promotethe growth of nucleated crystal seeds. Growing the nucleated crystalseeds may be considered to be a pre-structural ordering of thephase-change materials to prepare for a subsequent crystallization step(to some order of crystallinity and, consequently, resistivity value).Thus, one significant difference with respect to various contemporaneousprogramming signals used to program PCM cells today is an adoption of arising-edge signal (e.g., the ramp-up period) in order to promotenucleation of crystal seeds before the signal is continued at a higheramplitude or before a further programming SET signal is applied; both ofwhich are to commence crystalline growth.

Due to manufacturing tolerances and other variables, PCM cells within aPCM cells array will likely include unavoidable process variations.Consequently, the ramped rising-edge 601, 611, 621, 631, of FIGS. 6Athrough 6D, respectively, may effectively induce nucleation of crystalseeds even in slightly different PCM cells possibly present in a PCMarray.

Therefore, partially dependent on a maximum amplitude of the signal, oneor more of the four approaches shown in FIGS. 6A through 6D, orcombinations thereof, may be chosen in order to minimize an overallsignal duration (e.g., as shown in FIG. 6A) or to better managecell-to-cell variability (e.g., manufacturing tolerances) in terms ofthe current required for increased crystal growth (e.g., FIG. 6B or FIG.6C). Consequently, subsequent to the nucleation phase period, a crystalgrowth process may occur primarily during a plateau of the signal (e.g.,FIG. 6A) or during the ramp-down of the signal (e.g., FIG. 6B or FIG.6C) or during both (e.g., FIGS. 6B and 6C). Accordingly, a lower SETresistance and a better SET resistance distribution (a lower standarddeviation of various ones of the memory cells in an array) is obtainedif one or more of the signal shapes of FIGS. 6A through 6D is used(compared to the contemporaneous signal shape of FIGS. 5A through 5C).

However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that, withregard to FIGS. 6A through 6D, neither the magnitude, the slope, nor anyparticular proportions of the signals should be construed as to limit anexact time duration, magnitude, or shape of the various signals. As willbe readily understood by the skilled artisan upon reading andunderstanding the material disclosed herein, the various figures areoffered to provide a better understanding of the various conceptsdiscussed herein. Further, each of the ramped signals may comprise aplurality of stepped-values (e.g., a step-wise incremental signal) asopposed to a continuously-increasing (e.g., an analog signal) ramp-upsignal.

FIG. 7 is a graphical representation 700 showing nucleation probabilityand crystallization growth velocity as a function of temperature forphase-change materials. The graphical representation 700 indicates acalculated probability distribution for a nucleation phase 701 and acrystalline growth phase 703 of a phase-change material, such as theGe₂Sb₂Te₅ alloy, discussed above.

Crystallization in many materials is limited by nucleation.Consequently, nucleation rate of a given material (even at the peaktemperature) is so low that nucleation determines a timescale of anoverall crystallization process—once and if nucleation occurred, growthwill follow more quickly. Especially upon the technology is scaled down(cell size shrinking), nucleation is projected to become increasinglydifficult since the nucleation probability (determined as a functions ofnucleation rate times cell volume times observation time) decreases withcell volume. The nucleation rate itself is a material parameter andindependent of the cell volume. Crystal growth, in contrast tonucleation, becomes easier with scaling since the distance over whichthe crystal front has to grow decreases with cell size.

It is worth noting that the peak nucleation probability during thenucleation phase 701 typically occurs at lower temperature than the peakcrystal growth velocity and is dominant in the low-temperature regime(e.g., at 420 K or some other temperature selected to be less than apeak crystallization temperature). In contrast, the crystalline growthphase 703 provides a higher crystallization speed but, also, thecrystalline growth phase 703 occurs primarily at higher temperatures(e.g., at temperatures closer to the melting temperature of the alloy,which is approximately 900 K for Ge₂Sb₂Te₅).

The formation of the nucleation sites during the nucleation phase 701can be considered to be a pre-structural ordering of the moleculeswithin the phase-change material. That is, as opposed to proceeding fromfully amorphous to various levels of crystallinity of the phase-changematerials, the pre-structural ordering of the molecules within thechosen PCM alloy allows for a faster phase change of the phase-changematerial into various levels of crystallinity.

In general, the extension of the amorphized and crystalline regioninside a cell depends on the specific architecture employed. In standardPCM devices, a cell active region consists in an amorphous dome, usuallysurrounded by a phase-change material that remains in the crystallinephase. However, in other types of cell architectures, the active regionextends to the whole phase-change material volume. Therefore, the secondtype of cells may need to work with a RESET state that corresponds to afully amorphized phase-change material (a full-volume amorphization).Thus, an exact determination of the actual temperatures utilized for thetwo processes of FIG. 7 may be determined based on either empiricaltesting or on crystallization theory combined with the particularphase-change material employed including a volume of the PCM within thePCM cells, a shape and architecture of the phase-change material volume,and various other parameters known to a person of ordinary skill in theart.

In a confined cell that has been fully amorphized (e.g., brought to aRESET state), it is assumed that nucleation is the rate-limiting step(the step that determines subsequent SET success and speed). Crystalgrowth is assumed to be fast and transpires quickly once a nucleationevent has occurred. In order for nucleation to occur, by definition, atleast one crystal must emerge within the observation time (SET signalwidth, t_(PW)) and within the available cell volume, V. At anyparticular temperature and for a given cell volume, the minimum SETsignal time, t_(PW,min), is inversely proportional to thematerial-dependent crystal nucleation rate and occurs only at theoptimum temperature. In order to mitigate this issue of the prior art,the correct SET programming procedure for a fully amorphized cell wouldbe required to (1) initiate the nucleation of a (small) crystal with arelatively low temperature programming step: and (2) increase the sizeof the nucleated crystal by promoting crystal growth at a highertemperature.

As noted above, PCM cells within a PCM array will likely includeunavoidable process variations. Therefore, the ramped rising-edgesignals discussed above (e.g., FIGS. 6A through 6D) may effectivelyinduce nucleation of crystal seeds even in slightly different PCM cellspossibly present in a PCM array.

A prior art approach that has been considered for the two-step procedurediscussed above utilizes a reversed-L shaped SET signal. With referencenow to FIG. 8, a SET signal 800 of the prior art to enhance thenucleation process of a single PCM cell is shown. The SET signal ispurported to enhance the nucleation process, but it is tailored only toa single cell since any cell-to-cell variations are not considered. Afirst lower-level plateau 801 of the signal is used to promotenucleation during a time period t_(nucl). A second higher-level plateau803 of the signal operates over a time period, t_(plat), to promotecrystallization growth of the phase-change material.

This particular two-step prior art approach has been shown to beeffective for promoting nucleation first (before growth) in a single PCMcell. However, the amplitudes of the two plateaus 801, 803, must beaccurately tailored for a given PCM cell. Significantly, a single set ofamplitudes is typically not feasible because of cell-to-cell variationin an array of memory cells. Consequently, the SET signal 800 of FIG. 8is ineffective at producing a nucleation phase in a typical memory arrayinvolving a large number of PCM cells.

However, in various embodiments described herein, various combinationsof, for example, one or more of the signals of FIGS. 6A through 6D maybe combined to achieve a practical nucleation and/or SET signal forachieving the two-step nucleation-growth process described herein whilestill allowing for manufacturing variability (e.g., cell-to-cellvariations) in a memory array containing large numbers of PCM cells.

With reference now to FIG. 9, an alternative signal shape 900 havingseparate signal portions for nucleation and SET signal in accordancewith various embodiments described herein is shown. The alternativesignal shape 900 promotes nucleation in a plurality of PCM cells whileaccounting for manufacturing variability between the PCM cells. Forexample, a rising-edge signal portion 901 of the alternative signalshape 900 includes a nucleation phase signal and may also adopt or be aportion of one or more of the signals as shown graphically in FIGS. 6Athrough 6D. The rising-edge signal portion 901 utilizes a non-zeroramp-up time or rising edge of the signal that is substantially longerthan the practical lower limit of the approximately 10 ns ramp-up timediscussed above with regard to FIGS. 5A through 5C, above.

With reference to the standard square box SET signal of the prior art(e.g., FIG. 5A), or even the two-step version of the SET signal 800 ofFIG. 8, the signal shape 900 includes the rising-edge signal portion 901followed by a plateau-region signal portion 903. A time-period 907 mayoccur between the rising-edge signal portion 901 and the plateau-regionsignal portion 903. As will be understandable to a person of ordinaryskill in the art, the time-period 907 may, in an embodiment, cover azero-delay time period (in which case, a signal portion 905 effectivelycontinues directly to the plateau-region signal portion 903, such as isrepresented by FIG. 6A). In other embodiments, the time-period 907 mayhave a non-zero delay. The signal portion 905 may either be part of thenucleation signal or the SET signal, or both, or, after the non-zerodelay, the SET signal may simply continue as the plateau-region signalportion 903. In the case of either a zero-delay period or a non-zerodelay period, the highest amplitude of the rising-edge signal portion901 may have a different amplitude or substantially the same amplitudeas the plateau-region signal portion 903. For example, in variousembodiments, after a non-zero delay period, the rising-edge signalportion 901 may have substantially the same amplitude as theplateau-region signal portion 903.

The rising-edge signal portion 901 allows each of the PCM cells within amemory array to spend more time in the low-temperature regime conduciveto nucleation formation. The low-temperature region of the rising-edgesignal portion 901 allows nucleation probability to reach its maximumwithin each of the cells. After having promoted the initial nucleationprocess within the cells, the higher temperatures of the plateau-regionsignal portion 903 enhances crystal growth within each cell, thuscompleting the crystallization process to a desired level forprogramming selected ones of the PCM cells within an array.

The skilled artisan will recognize that the signal shape 900 of FIG. 9make take on a variety of shapes and that the signal shape 900 as shownis just one variation. Although not shown explicitly, one or more of thesignals of FIGS. 6A through 6D may be utilized along with a reversed-Lshaped SET signal having a rising-edge for the first level, as opposedto the nearly instantaneous rising edge of the SET signal 800 of FIG. 8.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A and 10B, a number of programming curvesobtained with different SET signals are shown for both rise times andfall times for a variety of time periods. A variable rise-time signalgraph 1000 is in accordance with various ones of the embodimentsdescribed herein. A nearly-instantaneous leading-edge signal graph 1050of FIG. 10B is in accordance with programming schemes employed by theprior art. Each of FIGS. 10A and 10B show a signal consisting of a setsignal, I_(S), having a plateau region of approximately 100 ns induration, preceded by a RESET pre-condition signal, I_(R), having atotal signal duration of approximately 100 ns. Also note that both FIGS.10A and 10B use the same SET signal energy and are therefore equivalentfrom a power consumption perspective. However, in the variable rise-timesignal graph 1000 of FIG. 10A, a duration of the rise time varies fromt₁ to t₅, providing a much-wider current window in which to formnucleation regions. In contrast, the nearly-instantaneous leading-edgesignal graph 1050 of FIG. 10B, a duration of the fall time varies fromt₁ to t₅.

More specifically, note that both FIGS. 10A and 10B vary the rise (orfall) time between t₁ and t₅ in this experiment. However, note thattimes t₂ and t₃ of FIG. 10A have successfully maintained a wider currentwindow as opposed to the curves for the equivalent times in FIG. 10Bthat use substantially the same overall pulse energy. Consequently, withthe rising-edge signal portion of FIG. 10A, a rise time of t₂ issufficient to crystallize the molecules within the cell. However, forFIG. 10B, the time required is at least t₄, which represents at least 10times the total time period required for successfully applying a SETsignal as compared with FIG. 10A.

Thus, with concurrent reference to FIG. 6A and FIGS. 5A through 5C, FIG.10A indicates benefits associated with the applying the signal of, forexample, the rising-edge signal 600 of FIG. 6A to PCM cells. Forexample, FIGS. 10A and 10B compare the rising-edge signal 600 to thesignal 500 of FIG. 5A or the triangular signal 510 of FIG. 5B or thecombined signal 520 of FIG. 5C in a fully confined phase-change memorycell. For example, for a particular architecture of a memory cell atcurrents lower than a given value, i, the temperature inside the cellobtained on the plateau of the SET signal corresponds to the regionwhere nucleation is highly effective and the plateau duration of t₂ issufficient to crystallize the molecules within the cell as shown in FIG.10A. However, for currents higher than the given value i, nucleation isno longer effective, and a square SET signal (approximated byt_(rise)=t₁, corresponding to the signal 500 of FIG. 5A and as indicatedby the graph of FIG. 10B, cannot set the cells to a low thresholdvoltage or resistance. Therefore, if no crystal seed is present toinitiate the growth process, no crystallization can take place nearly asrapidly as shown in FIG. 10A.

By increasing the rising edge time of the signal (e.g., t_(rise)≥t₂) asshown in FIG. 10A, the crystal seeds can be initiated during the ramp-uptime, and the SET state can easily be achieved also in this region(leading to a low resistance). Therefore, FIGS. 10A and 10B indicatethat a ramp-up signal is more efficient than a ramp-down signal.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart 1100 showing an embodiment of a method toimplement nucleation phases and programming of PCM cells in accordancewith various embodiments described herein. The method may be applied toand utilized by various types of memory arrays, such as the memoryarrays 102 of FIG. 1. A person of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand that the flowchart provides only one possible chronologicaloccurrence of the various operations. The skilled artisan, upon readingand understanding the disclosure provided herein will recognize thatmany of the operations may be performed in a different order, certainoperations may be performed in parallel with other operations, or someoperations may be considered to be optional (e.g., operations 1101through 1111 and 1115 may be carried out during a development phase ofPCM array development while applying a combined or separate nucleationand programming SET signals). Further, upon reading and understandingthe disclosure provided herein, the skilled artisan will furtherrecognize that the flowchart 1100 may be implemented, for example,within the memory control unit 118 of FIG. 1, or in a controller 1203,discussed below with reference to FIG. 12. Although not shownspecifically, in an embodiment, the memory control unit 118 and thecontroller 1203 may include a nucleation signal generator and aprogramming signal generator. The generated nucleation signal andprogramming signal may each be formed by the same generator or may beformed by separate generators. For example, in one embodiment, thenucleation signal generator may provide a continuously-increasingrising-edge signal (e.g., such as the non-zero rising-edge signal ofFIGS. 6A through 6D and FIG. 9). In another embodiment, the nucleationsignal generator may provide a step-wise increasing rising-edge signal.However, the nucleation signal generator may also be utilized togenerate the programming signal. In some embodiments, the type ofrising-edge nucleation signal and SET programming single may befield-selectable from within the memory control unit 118 or thecontroller 1203 for particular types of SET resistance values selected.Therefore, the flowchart 1100 is provided simply to illuminate variousoperations that may be considered.

With continuing reference to FIG. 11, at operation 1101, a meltingtemperature of the phase-change material alloy used within the PCM cellsis determined. Generally, melting temperatures may be known a priori fora given alloy. At operation 1103, a determination of a current levelnecessary to bring the PCM alloy to melting temperature is made. Thedetermination of current is based, at least partially, on both thestructure (e.g., shape) and volume of the phase-change material withinthe cell. Subsequent selections of an amplitude of nucleation signalamplitudes and programming signal amplitudes are generally adjusted tobe below the current level necessary to bring the PCM alloy to meltingtemperature.

At operation 1105, an approximate temperature is determined that allowscells within the memory array to remain within the nucleation phase(e.g., effectively nucleate crystals) based on nucleation probability(e.g., see FIG. 7). However, since a single temperature of nucleationcannot be determined that will be optimal for each of the PCM cellswithin the memory array, the selected approximate temperature providesfor the pre-structural ordering of molecules within the phase-changematerial alloy while remaining generally within the nucleationprobability phase 701 of FIG. 7 while avoiding too high of temperaturethat will begin placing the cells within the crystalline growth phase703. The determination of the approximate temperature to remain withinthe nucleation phase 701 is based, at least partially, on the structure(e.g., shape), volume, and/or type of the phase-change material withinthe cell. A determination of the crystallization probability as afunction of temperature for phase-change materials may only beapproximately determined based on given phase-change materials andcorresponding interfaces with neighboring materials. Therefore, a finaldetermination of the values of operations 1101 through 1107 may beempirically determined by, for example, an experiment that loops throughall possible amplitudes and all possible rise/fall times (usingreasonable ranges and step sizes which would be known to a person ofordinary skill in the art). Consequently, an a priori knowledge ofcrystallization rates is not necessary. The empirical experiment couldbe conducted on an entire array and the values could then be selectedtherefrom for a given array/material type.

At operation 1107, a determination of a current level associated withthe desired approximate temperature determined at operation 1105 toplace the PCM cells of the memory array within the nucleation phase ismade. A selection of one or more of the signal types (e.g., the varioussignals described with reference to FIGS. 6A through 6D and/or FIG. 9)to provide for nucleation is then made at operation 1109.

Based on at least the shape, volume, and alloy type selected for the PCMcells, a determination of a time period in which to ramp-up a signal ismade at operation 1111. The determination of the time period is furtherbased on either an expected, calculated, or measured manufacturingvariability and tolerances of the PCM cells within an array. Theselected signal may then be applied to the PCM cells within the memoryarray at operation 1113.

When a determination is made to program various ones of the PCM cellswithin the memory array, an amplitude, duration, and signal type for aprogramming signal are selected at operation 1115. The selection of theamplitude, duration, and signal type parameters chosen to effect adesired level of crystal growth within the one or more cells. Theselection of parameters may be known independently to a person ofordinary skill in the art or, alternatively, or in conjunction, may bedetermined empirically. The programming signal is then applied toappropriate ones of the PCM cells at operation 1117. As discussed above,the nucleation signal and the programming signal may be combined into asingle signal.

With reference now to FIG. 12, a block diagram of an illustrativeembodiment of an apparatus in the form of an electronic system 1200including one or more memory devices (e.g., the memory device 101 ofFIG. 1) is shown. The electronic system 1200 may be used in devices suchas, for example, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop orportable computer with or without wireless capability, a web tablet, awireless telephone, a pager, an instant messaging device, a digitalmusic player, a digital camera, or other devices that may be adapted totransmit or receive information either wirelessly or over a wiredconnection. The electronic system 1200 may be used in any of thefollowing systems: a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, awireless personal area network (WPAN) system, or a cellular network.

The electronic system 1200 of FIG. 12 is shown to include the controller1203 (briefly discussed above), an input/output (I/O) device 1211 (e.g.,a keypad, a touchscreen, or a display), a memory device 1209, a wirelessinterface 1207, and a static random access memory (SRAM) device 1201 allcoupled to each other via a bus 1213. A battery 1205 may supply power tothe electronic system 1200 in one embodiment. The memory device 1209 mayinclude a NAND memory, a flash memory, a NOR memory, a combination ofthese, or the like, as well as one or more of the memory devicesdescribed herein.

The controller 1203 may include, for example, one or moremicroprocessors, digital signal processors, micro-controllers, or thelike. Further, upon reading and understanding the disclosure providedherein, the skilled artisan will recognize that the flowchart 1100 ofFIG. 11, discussed above, may be implemented in the controller 1203. Thememory device 1209 may be used to store information transmitted to or bythe electronic system 1200. The memory device 1209 may optionally alsobe used to store information in the form of instructions that areexecuted by the controller 1203 during operation of the electronicsystem 1200 and may be used to store information in the form of userdata either generated, collected, or received by the electronic system1200 (such as image data). The instructions may be stored as digitalinformation and the user data, as disclosed herein, may be stored in onesection of the memory as digital information and in another section asanalog information. As another example, a given section at one time maybe labeled to store digital information and then later may bereallocated and reconfigured to store analog information. The controller1203 may include one or more of the memory devices described herein.

The I/O device 1211 may be used to generate information. The electronicsystem 1200 may use the wireless interface 1207 to transmit and receiveinformation to and from a wireless communication network with a radiofrequency (RF) signal. Examples of the wireless interface 1207 mayinclude an antenna, or a wireless transceiver, such as a dipole or patchantenna. However, the scope of the subject matter is not limited in thisrespect. Also, the I/O device 1211 may deliver a signal reflecting whatis stored as either a digital output (if digital information wasstored), or as an analog output (if analog information was stored).While an example in a wireless application is provided above,embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein may also be used innon-wireless applications as well. The I/O device 1211 may include oneor more of the memory devices programmed as described herein.

The various illustrations of the methods and apparatuses herein areintended to provide a general understanding of the structure of variousembodiments and are not intended to provide a complete description ofall the elements and features of the apparatuses and methods that mightmake use of the structures, features, and materials described herein.

The apparatuses of the various embodiments may include or be includedin, for example, electronic circuitry used in high-speed computers,communication and signal processing circuitry, single or multi-processormodules, single or multiple embedded processors, multi-core processors,data switches, and application-specific modules including multilayer,multi-chip modules, or the like. Such apparatuses may further beincluded as sub-components within a variety of electronic systems, suchas televisions, cellular telephones, personal computers (e.g., laptopcomputers, desktop computers, handheld computers, tablet computers,etc.), workstations, radios, video players, audio players, vehicles,medical devices (e.g., heart monitors, blood pressure monitors, etc.),set top boxes, and various other electronic systems.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, for this andother methods (e.g., programming or read operations) disclosed herein,the activities forming part of various methods may be implemented in adiffering order, as well as repeated, executed simultaneously, orsubstituted one for another. Further, the outlined acts and operationsare only provided as examples, and some of the acts and operations maybe optional, combined into fewer acts and operations, or expanded intoadditional acts and operations without detracting from the essence ofthe disclosed embodiments.

The present disclosure is therefore not to be limited in terms of theparticular embodiments described in this application, which are intendedas illustrations of various aspects. For example, instead of usingfloating gates as a charge storage structure, charge traps may be usedinstead. Many modifications and variations can be made, as will beapparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon reading andunderstanding the disclosure. Functionally equivalent methods andapparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to thoseenumerated herein, will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in theart from the foregoing descriptions. Portions and features of someembodiments may be included in, or substituted for, those of others.Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill inthe art upon reading and understanding the description provided herein.Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within a scope ofthe appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by theterms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalentsto which such claims are entitled. It is also to be understood that theterminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow a reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. The abstract issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description,it may be seen that various features are grouped together in a singleembodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This methodof disclosure is not to be interpreted as limiting the claims. Thus, thefollowing claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

1. A method of programming phase-change memory (PCM) cells within amemory array, the method comprising: applying a nucleation signal toselected ones of the PCM cells to form nucleation sites within theselected ones of the PCM cells, the nucleation sites being apre-structural ordering of molecules of PCM material within the selectedPCM cells occurring prior to the molecules being placed in a crystallinegrowth phase; and waiting a non-zero-time period prior to subsequentlyapplying a programming signal to achieve a desired level ofcrystallinity within the selected ones of the PCM cells.
 2. The methodof claim 1, further comprising making a determination of a time periodover which to apply the nucleation signal to the selected ones of thePCM cells prior to applying the programming signal.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising providing a wide current window in which toform nucleation regions during a nucleation phase.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising selecting the nucleation signal to have avariable rising-edge increasing in amplitude over a non-zero timeframe.5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the nucleationsignal includes a signal portion having a non-zero ramp-up time having avariable rising-edge signal.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein thenon-zero ramp-up time is substantially longer than a practical lowerlimit of a ramp-up time.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the signalportion having the non-zero rising-edge time having the variablerising-edge signal is followed by a plateau-region signal portion of thenucleation signal.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portionof the nucleation signal comprises a non-zero rising-edge signal appliedprior to application of the subsequent programming signal.
 9. The methodof claim 8, wherein the signal portion having the non-zero rising-edgetime includes a step-wise incremental signal.
 10. The method of claim 8,wherein the signal portion having the non-zero rising-edge time isfollowed by applying a plateau-region signal portion of the nucleationsignal.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal portion havingthe non-zero rising-edge time is followed by a time period prior toapplying the plateau-region signal portion of the nucleation signal. 12.The method of claim 8, wherein an amplitude of the signal portion havinga non-zero rising-edge time has a maximum amplitude that is differentfrom an amplitude of the plateau-region signal portion of the nucleationsignal.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein an amplitude of the signalportion having a non-zero rising-edge time has a maximum amplitude thatis substantially the same as an amplitude of the plateau-region signalportion of the nucleation signal.
 14. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising applying a SET programming signal to at least a portion ofthe selected ones of the PCM cells subsequent to applying the nucleationsignal.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising making adetermination of a time period between application of the nucleationsignal and the SET programming signal.
 16. The method of claim 1,further comprising selecting an amplitude of the nucleation signal toform crystal nucleation-sites during the nucleation phase insideamorphous ones of the selected ones of the PCM cells.
 17. An apparatusto program a phase-change memory (PCM) cells within a memory array, theapparatus comprising: at least one signal generator configured to applya nucleation signal to selected ones of the PCM cells to form nucleationsites within molecules of PCM material within the selected ones of thePCM cells, the nucleation sites being a state of pre-structural orderingof the molecules of the PCM material within the selected PCM cells priorto the molecules being placed in a crystalline-growth phase, and the atleast one signal generator further configured to apply a programmingsignal after a non-zero-time period of the application of the nucleationsignal to achieve a desired level of crystallinity within the selectedones of the PCM cells.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the atleast one signal generator is further configured to generate a non-zerotimeframe rising-edge of the nucleation signal as a step-wiseincremental signal.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at leastone signal generator is further configured to generate at least aportion of the nucleation signal to include a signal portion having avariable non-zero ramp-up time.
 20. A method of programming a number ofphase-change memory (PCM) cells within a memory array, the methodcomprising: applying a nucleation signal to selected ones of the numberof PCM cells to form nucleation sites, the nucleation sites being apre-structural ordering of molecules of PCM material within the selectedPCM cells occurring prior to the molecules being placed in a crystallinegrowth phase; and waiting a non-zero time period prior to a subsequentapplication of a programming signal to selected ones of the selected PCMcells.